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Plays for Children by 
S. Lyle Cummins 
volume i 


BLUEBEARD 


HAROUN EL RASHID 



PLAYS FOR CHILDREN 


By S. LYLE CUMMINS 

With coloured Frontispieces and other Illustrations by 

G. L. Stampa 


Volume I BLUEBEARD 

HAROUN EL RASHID 

Volume II ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON 
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 

Volume III GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE 

BEARS 

TORQUIL MAC FERRON 
THOMAS OLIFANT 
TYRANNY 


New York: GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 




BLUEBEARD 


HAROUN EL RASHID 


BY 

S. LYLE CUMMINS 

w 


Illustrated by 
G. L. STAMPA 


> 

> 

i 

> 


NEW 



YORK 


GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 




P/\l utzao 

J&Cef 


COPYRIGHT, 1923, 

BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 



PLAYS FOR CHILDREN. VOLUME I 
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

SEP 28’23 

©C1A75914 9 

'V 4 •/ 



FOREWORD 


The Author makes no apology for intro¬ 
ducing Haroun el Rashid as the hero of a 
nursery drama. His story is edifying and 
his reputation is spotless. But what of Blue¬ 
beard? His memory, always green, has 
never been allowed to blossom. Thousands 
of more comprehensive slayers have been 
forgiven or forgotten and apologists have 
been found for nearly every murderer in his¬ 
tory. For Bluebeard, there is neither 
oblivion nor appreciation. Why? If he 
had merely decreed the slaughter of thou¬ 
sands and, in shining armour, had brought 
devastation and woe to half the world, he 
would have been placed on record by 
Macaulay or Froude, and schoolboys would 
have been obliged to learn the dates of his 
birth and death and the names of his prin¬ 
cipal battles. His reputation would have 


v 


Foreword 

been safe in the hands of his own sex. But, 
alas for this choleric but consistent male, his 
story has been transmitted not by the pens 
of men but by the tongues of women. His 
is the kind of history that is used by mothers 
and nurses to frighten naughty children. 
One asks oneself whether the opponents of 
Votes for Women may not find themselves 
handed down to future generations in the 
same way! 


i 


vi 


HOW TO PRODUCE CHILDREN’S 

PLAYS 


To get the best fun out of these Children’s 
Plays, they must be staged by the players 
themselves according to their own ideas and 
with such properties as are available or can 
be improvised at home. An important point 
is that the longest and hardest part is prefer¬ 
ably taken by a “grown-up” upon whose 
strength the younger actors can lean for sup¬ 
port. The other parts are some long and 
some short to suit all ages, and the fact that 
the plays are in rhyme makes it quite easy 
for children to learn their parts. Masks may 
be made from wire netting bent into the ap¬ 
propriate shape, over which brown paper is 
pasted to make a surface. On this surface, 
when dry, eyes, nostrils or ears can be fixed 
or painted, and through it, eye-holes can be 
pierced to ensure visibility to the actor. By 


Vll 


How to Produce Children's Plays 

working up paper with paste, a pulpy ma¬ 
terial can be made from which eye-brows, 
beaks or fangs can be moulded and stuck on 
to embellish the mask. Body coverings can 
be made of sacking with paper scales, feath¬ 
ers or fur as required. Armour is best fash¬ 
ioned from stout cardboard covered with 
silver paper. Scimitars, broad swords, 
daggers, and other weapons can be manu¬ 
factured from wood cut to the proper shape 
and covered with silver or gold paper, and 
wound round with coloured wools or silks 
to give the effect of jewelled hilts or sheaths. 
As for costumes, it may safely be left to the 
mothers and aunts of the performers to pro¬ 
duce all that is required from wardrobes, 
linen cupboards, trunks and other secret 
places where silks, satins, ribbons, laces and 
all kinds of finery lie safely folded, hidden 
away like beautiful moths or butterflies in 
their chrysalises awaiting the appointed 
hour. 


vm 


CONTENTS 


Bluebeard . 
Haroun el Rashid 










ILLUSTRATIONS 


“rather MORE TO THE RIGHT TO ENSURE BET¬ 
TER light” .... Frontispiece 

PAGE 

“not too near, not too near” . . 19 

“he’s asleep”. 25 

“here they come at the gallop in armour 

so bright”. 35 

“i’d arrange that each man had a cow of his 

own” .. 49 

“allow US, ALLOW US, ALLOW US-TO FEED 

HAROUN EL RASHID”. 59 

SHAWISH LEADS FORWARD OLD FATMA . . . 65 

“must I BELLOW AND ROAR?” . . . . 77 


xi 
















BLUEBEARD 


DRAMATIS PERSONAE 


bluebeard, An opponent of Votes for 
Women. 

fatma, His wife. 
sister anne, A Feminist. 

AHMED 


NASRALLAH 


Fauna's Brothers . 



BLUEBEARD 


PROLOGUE 

( Recited , in front of the curtain , by a very 
small Peri.) 

Gentle friends from the West, 

I request 

That you drive from your minds every trace 
Of London, wide streets and this place 
And repair, for a moment at least 
To the East! 


15 




Scene I. bluebeard and fatma seated 
on cushions in the Hareem. Hookah, 
Brass jars, and all the Liberty ah 
tributes of an Oriental Household . 

FATMA 

Wallahi, ye Seedi, 

You won’t think me greedy 
If I have just one sup 
Of this sweet sherbet cup 4 ? 

BLUEBEARD 

La, La, ye Habeebi, 

La, La, unto thee be 
The cup and contents 

[Moving towards her 
And my best compliments! 

FATMA 

You’re so good and so kind. 

17 


Bluebeard 


[scene I 


BLUEBEARD 

You’re a peach to my mind. 


FATMA 

And so handsome as well. 


BLUEBEARD 

Oh, most graceful gazelle! 

[Comes very near 


FATMA 

Not too near, not too near. 

BLUEBEARD 

Why there’s nothing to fear 
From a dark handsome man! 

FATMA 

[Calling through the door\ 
Sister Anne! Sister Anne! 

BLUEBEARD 

There you go! Calling Sister! 

I shouldn’t have missed her. 

If you’d left her outside. 

18 

% 


SCENE i] 


Bluebeard 



“not too near, not too near” 






































SCENE i] 


Bluebeard 


FATMA 

I’m your own little bride. 

'Enter anne 

But my Annie’s a dear. 

[To anne] Aren’t you, darling*? Come 
here. [Draws anne to her 

BLUEBEARD 

[ Disappointed ] 

I’d give jewels and gold 
I’d give treasure untold 
For just one little kiss. 

FATMA 

Yet you won’t give me this. 

[Pointing to his key 

BLUEBEARD 

What! give you my key*? 

Is it likely! Not me! 

FATMA 

Oh, the silence and gloom 
Of that dark little room! 

21 


Bluebeard 


[scene I 


What on earth do you keep 
There? I do long to peep. 

Just a look! just a glance! 

BLUEBEARD 

No, my dear! Not a chance. 

ANNE 

[Coldly] 

It is just as I feared. 

FATMA 

[Angry] 

I dislike your blue beard. 

You’re a horrid old man! 

BLUEBEARD 

[Rising and going to the door 
Very well! Play with Anne! [Exit 

FATMA 

[In tears] 

Oh, my Annie! What a shame. 

Does he love me? Who’s to blame? 

22 


SCENE i] 


Bluebeard 


Surely, surely, I should know 
All about my house and go 
Just where’er my fancies lead! 

ANNE 

Darling Fatma! Yes indeed! 
Every man should give his life 
Merely to oblige his wife. 

This refusal seems to me 
Full of guilt and mystery. 

FATMA 

Oh, whatever shall I do. 

ANNE 

Then why should his beard be blue? 
Other beards are brown or red! 

I mistrust him. . . . 

FATMA 

Have I wed 

Some magician^ Does this key 
Something awful hide from me 4 ? 

23 


Bluebeard 


[SCENE I 


ANNE 

That is what we must explore. 

[A loud sound in the next room 
Goodness gracious! 


He’s asleep. 


FATMA 

[Peeping out] 

Just a snore! 


ANNE 

Why now’s our chance. 
Tip-toe, tip-toe, we’ll advance, 

Loose the ring and steal the key 

FATMA 

[Laughing ] 

Then we’ll see—what we shall see. 

[Exeunt on tip-toe 
[Curtain 


24 


SCENE i] 


Bluebeard 



“he’s asleep” 


25 





















































































Scene II. Outside the Chamber of Horrors 


BLUEBEARD 

[Soliloquising] 

So she wants to examine my own little show. 
These women are simply the limit, you know, 
Always fussing and fretting 
And always forgetting 
Their one duty complete— 

To dress well and look sweet! 

No one wants them to think 
If their lips are rose-pink! 

One puts up with their prose 
If their eyes are like sloes. 

Now take Fatma’s case. 

I chose her for her face — 

Which is charming, I own— 

Can she let well alone? 

Not at all. If you please 
She must have my keys, 

And if I resist her 
She screams for her sister! 

27 


Bluebeard 


[scene II 


Attempts at caresses 
She sternly represses. 

In fact on the whole 
She aspires to a soull 
An unwomanly claim 
Which I mention with shame. 

I fear she’ll oblige me by way of correction, 
To add one more head to my little collection! 
I consider, don’t you^ 

That the best thing to do 
When the woman you woo 
Proves a bit of a shrew, 

Is to try with the aid 

Of one’s best Damasc blade 

That old trick of the trade [Gesture 

And have done with the jade! 

[Walking towards the Chamber of 
Horrors 

It is here that I keep the last mortal remains 
Of women with souls, and young ladies with 
brains. 

There’s Sayeeda, Salama, Ku-ku and Shi- 
hada, 

Zuleika, Helawa and Sheherazada— 

28 


SCENE II] 


Bluebeard 


All smart and all clever, 

Now quiet for ever; 

And just to ensure that they always look 
nice— 

I know ’tis expensive—I keep ’em ... on- 
ice! 

5 Tis quite time I inspected; I really must see 
How they’re looking. 

[Feels for his key and finds it gone. 
Wallahi! They’ve stolen my key. 
La lllah ill Allah! Ye Rihona Karim. 

This is Fatma and Anne! Oh, my cursed 
Hareem! 

[Rushes out in search of fatma 

[Curtain 


29 


Scene III. Same Scene. Enter fatma and 
anne, cautiously , with key . 

ANNE 

Look, here is the Chamber! Tread softly, 
tip-toe. 

FATMA 

There are mice, I feel certain! 

[Gathers up her skirts 

ANNE 

Or cockroaches! 


FATMA 

Oh! 

ANNE 

But isn’t it thrilling? I am so excited. 


FATMA 

[ Hesitating ] 

Are we wise to look in without being invited 4 ? 



SCENE III] 


Bluebeard 


ANNE 

Oh, be brave! ’Tis the female revolt of 
Islam. 


FATMA 

[Taking courage] 

Turn the key! 


ANNE 

Press the door! 


FATMA 

Pull the bolt! 
[The door flies open. In a blue light 
a ghastly row of heads is seen on 
a Dais 


Ye Salaam l 


BOTH 

[In terror] 


Enter bluebeard, smiling 


31 


Bluebeard 


[scene III 


BLUEBEARD 

Look inside by all means, wretched child of 
Perdition, 

And imagine your head as a charming addi¬ 
tion. 

[fatma falls on her knees , screaming 

There is no need to scream. You’ll be hand¬ 
somest far. 

Pray excuse me. Pm off for my light scimi¬ 
tar! [Exit 

FATMA 

[On her knees by the door ] 

To the window! Is Ahmed in sight, tell me 
pray. 

With Nasrallah he said he was coming to¬ 
day. 

If they’re near we are safe; We are lost if 
they fail. 

You will know them afar by the light on 
their mail. 


ANNE 

There is nothing at hand 
But the wide yellow sand! 

32 


SCENE III] 


Bluebeard 


FATMA 

Sister Anne, Sister Anne, is there never a 
gleam? 


ANNE 

[ Hopefully ] 

Something moves over there 
[Disappointed ] 5 Tis an ox with berseem. 

FATMA 

Sister Anne! 


ANNE 

\Joy fully] 

There are riders, I see them! Oh, joy! 

[A pause 

[Sadly] No, ’tis only some camels led on 
by a boy. 


FATMA 

[In desperation ] 

Sister Anne, Sister Anne, is there no one in 
sight? 


33 


Bluebeard 


[scene III 


ANNE 

[ With conviction ] 

Here they come at the gallop in armour so 
bright. 

Enter bluebeard with scimitar 

BLUEBEARD 

Please to raise up your hair 
I propose {Touching her neck\ to strike 
there , 

And your sobbing please stifle! 

[Takes a pace back and rolls up his 
sleeves 

Lean forward a trifle, 

Rather more to the right 
To ensure better light. 

[To anne] Sister Anne, kindly place 
This cloth under the face. 

[anne does so , sobbing . bluebeard 
adjusts his sleeves and stands 
back 

Now I think we are ready. 

34 


SCENE III] 


Bluebeard 



“here they come at the gallop in armour 
so bright” 


35 










SCENE III] 


Bluebeard 


[Swings back his scunitar\ One! two! 

three! four! . . . Steady! 

[Feet heard on the stairs . bluebeard starts 
violently ] What? 

[The door bursts open 

ahmed and nasrallah dash in 


You villain. 

AHMED 

[Strikes him 

You hound! 

NASRALLAH 

[Stabs him 
[bluebeard falls , wounded 


AHMED 


[Spurning bluebeard] 

Leave the wretch on the ground! 

We were barely in time. 

NASRALLAH 

Cruel brute! What a crime! 

[bluebeard raises himself slowly on 

37 


Bluebeard [scene hi 

his arm and gazes sorrowfully at 
them 


BLUEBEARD 

Oh, Fools! You have slain me! An action 
absurd. 

I was fighting your battle. Now hear my 
last word. 

In destroying poor Bluebeard you drive the 
last nail 

In the coffin of “Power in the hands of the 
Male”; 

You ensure that your sex shall be dashed 
from its heights 

By a horde of wild women intent on their 
Rights! 

Ah! I know all their mad aspirations by 
rote. 

If you give them the keys they will ask for 
the Vote. 

If you give them the Vote, they will capture 
the State, 

And you’ll mourn in their close silken fetters 
too late! 


38 


scene hi] Bluebeard 

Had I but survived I’d have bent to my 
will 

All this latent rebellion of ribbon and frill. 
I’d have made wedded bliss a secure insti¬ 
tution, 

By a steady persistence in Home Execution! 
But alas! All is over. I languish. I fail, 
And the masculine dies at the hand of the 
Male . [Dies 


AHMED 

Have we made a mistake? 

NASRALLAH 

Are we false to our sex? 

FATMA 

Dearest brothers, these theories only perplex. 

ANNE 

Don’t stand there looking silly. 

Be cheerful, like me, 
And come with your Anne. 

39 


Bluebeard 


[scene III 


FATMA 


ALL 


And your Fatma 


To tea. 

[ Curtain 


40 


SCENE III] 


Bluebeard 



41 




















HAROUN EL RASHID 


DRAMATIS PERSONAE 


HAROUN EL RASHID, A Sultan. 

abu zeit, A Cheery Good-for-nothing. 

the shawish, Head of the police. 

amin, The Wizir. 

page and Three Attendants. 

fatma, Mother of Abu Zeit . 

SHEHADA 
SHEREZADA 


BINT EL NADA 


> 


Dancing Girls . 



HAROUN EL RASHID" 


Scene I. On the bridge outside the house 

of ABU ZEIT. ABU ZEIT, in TUQS , is 

seated on a straw mat preparing his eve¬ 
ning meal . 

Enter haroun disguised 

HAROUN 

Salaam Aleikum . 


ABU ZEIT 

Aleikum el Salaam , 

And of greetings the best to a child of Islam. 
May your wisdom increase, may you never 
be thinner. 

Oh, brother, I pray you sit down and have 
dinner. 

* Pronounced Haroun e* Rasheed. 

45 


Haroun El Rashid [scene i 

HAROUN 

Why, brother, I welcome your kind hospi¬ 
tality, 

And I’ll join in your meal without any for¬ 
mality; 

For what says the Prophet, “The bread of 
a friend 

Receive with thanksgiving, enjoy without 
end.” 


ABU ZEIT 

Well, brother, I hope your enjoyment will 
last 

At least twice as long as this humble repast! 

Here’s but water from Zum-Zum, 

And bread from the Suk. 

[Turning and calling through the 
door 

Ye Oomil My Mother! [No answer 

Ha! In an abuk! 

Hurry up then, old woman; bring forth of 
our best; 

Make haste with a meal for your son and 
his guest. 


46 


scene i] Haroun El Rashid 


OLD FATMA 

[hooking out ] 

Ya Salaam! Is it food that you ask of your 
Mother? 


ABU ZEIT 

Why yes, Withered Rose, for myself and my 
brother. 


FATMA 

Is it food! When you’ve left me without a 
piastre? 


ABU ZEIT 

Yes, food! And be quick or there’ll be a 
disaster! 

I know in the attic you’ve plenty of soup! 

[Exit FATMA 

[To haroun.] She’s like a hyena, the old 
nincompoop! 


HAROUN 

[ Politely ] 

Why this bread is like Kisra! This water 
like honey! 


47 


Haroun El Rashid [scene I 


ABU ZEIT 

Good will is a spice that you can’t get for 
money I 


fatma enters , puts down the soup bowl , 

and departs 

Here’s the soup. It is thin—but we’re 
sorely in need, 

Through that ass of a Sultan, Haroun el 
Rashid! 


HAROUN 

[ Blandly ] 

So your poverty back to the Sultan you trace. 
Could you banish all want if you reigned in 
his place 4 ? 


ABU ZEIT 

% 

[Boastfully\ 

If I reigned in his place 4 ? If I sat on his 
throne, 

I’d arrange that each man had a cow of his 


own 


48 


SCENE i] Haroun El Rashid 



‘‘i’d arrange that each man had 

A COW OF HIS OWN” 



t 






















































1 
















scene i] Haroun El Rashid 

To give milk; and a plot to grow durrha and 
beans! 

And wives by the dozen, like people of 
means! 

My whole duty 5 1would be to bring these 
things to pass 

If you found but one pauper—why, call me 
an ass! 

[haroun has filled up the two cups 
from his flask , and slipped a 
powder in one 

HAROUN 

\Proffering the Cup ] 

Why, brother, in you a great Sultan is 
hidden! 

The juice of the grape to the Faithful for¬ 
bidden 

May still be allowed to the wise or the sick! 

And your wisdom’s undoubted so—toss it off 
quick! [abu zeit drinks 

Now suppose you were Sultan; how long, do 
you say, 


51 



Haroun El Rashid [scene i 

You’d require to complete all these won¬ 
ders? 


ABU ZEIT 

[Drowsily] 

One Day ! 

[Falls sleepily on his side, and snores 
loudly 

[haroun stands up, dropping his 
outer mantle to show his real self, 
and clapping his hands 

Enter Three Attendants 
1st attendant 

Saidetoo! 

2nd attendant 
Genaboo! 

3rd attendant 

Galeletloo Effendum! 

HAROUN 

Just fetch my Black Boy, Ereshidi, and send 
him 


52 


SCENE i] Haroun El Rashid 

Post haste with a message a bed to prepare 

In the Royal Blue Room that is known as 
the “Spare.” 

You three, seize this clown, and be sure not 
to wake him, 

Dispose on a litter, and secretly take him 

At once to the Palace and place in the bed 

Of the Royal Blue Room—known as 
“Spare” as I’ve said! 

When he wakes in the morn let attendants 
surround him 

With curtseying, bowing and scraping con¬ 
found him, 

With bland protestations and tales make it 
seem 

To the wretch that his past life was only 
a dream, 

That awakened at last, he in truth and in 
deed 

Is none other than Sultan Haroun el Rashid! 

Do his bidding, attend to his orders and 
whims; 

With silks and with satins embellish his 
limbs. 


53 


Haroun El Rashid [ SCENE I 

Bring all plaints and all cases before him 
for trial, 

Until the Muezzin, and Palace Sun Dial 

Call the Faithful to prayer! Then his sup¬ 
per prepare 

And into his jewel-rimmed flagon of wine 

Just measure three grains of this powder 
divine [Hands them a powder 

Have the litter prepared and the carriers 
near, 

And when sleep overtakes him just bring 
him back here. 

Meanwhile, make it known to my Lady the 
Queen 

That I hunt the gazelle for a day at 
Kamlin! [Exit haroun 

[Attendants place abu zeit on a 
litter and carry him off the stage. 

[Curtain 


54 


Scene II. A Room in the Palace. abu 
zeit asleep on a couch. Female At¬ 
tendants are singing praises. 

SHEHADA 

Oh, whose is the hand by whose bounty we 
feed? 


ALL 

Haroun el Rashid. 

SHEREZADA 

Oh, who is the chief in whose cause we 
would bleed? 


ALL 

Haroun el Rashid. 

BINT EL NADA 

All praise to the Prince who can counsel and 
lead, 

By whose wisdom we live, by whose sword 
we are freed. 


55 


Haroun El Rashid [scene ii 


ALL 

All Hail to our Sultan, our Ruler indeed! 
Haroun el Rashid. 


ABU ZEIT 

[ Waking] 

What’s all this ^ Where am I? and what 
people are these*? 

Ye Oomi! My Mother! Come here if you 
please! 

My head seems all funny, the room seems 
all queer; 

Ye Fatma, Ye Oomi, My Mother, come 
here! 


BINT EL NADA 

What’s your Majesty’s pleasure? 

SHEREZADA 

Shall I tread a measure? 


SHEHADA 

Or shall your young Treasure just sing you 
to sleep? 


56 


scene n] Haroun El Rashid 


ABU ZEIT 

Who are you? 


SHEHADA 

Shehada. 

ABU ZEIT 

And you? 

SHEREZADA 

Sherezada. 

BINT EL NADA 

And I’m Bint el Nada! 

ABU ZEIT 
\In horror] 

You make my flesh creep! 

Are you ghosts or Affreits? 

SHEHADA 

Why your Majesty cheats 
His poor little slaves of the pleasure of 
charming him. 


57 


Haroun El Rashid [scene ii 


BINT EL NADA 

Shehada, my dear, pray don’t go too near, 
Can’t you see he’s awaked from a dream*? 

You’re alarming him! 

ALL 

A si da and Melon are what you must need! 

[They hold up dishes of fruit 

ALL 

Allow us, allow us , allow us —To feed 
Haroun el Rashid. 

[abu zeit cannot resist the fruity 
tastes it , then seizing it with both 
hands , stuffs it into his mouth . 

ABU ZEIT 

By Allah! this fruit is a dream of delight! 
And you, sweet Shehada, your eyes are so 
bright! 

If you’re real, just give me a finger to kiss. 

[Puts an ar7n round her 
Wallahi, there’s not much Affreit about this! 
[Puts his other arm round shere- 


zada 


58 


scene n] Haroun El Rashid 



‘‘ALLOW US, ALLOW US, ALLOW US-TO FEED 

HAROUN EL RASHID” 


59 















































































« 




scene n] Haroun El Rashid 

And you , sweet Gazelle, are you real as 
well? 

[To bint el nada] Fair charmer! Com¬ 
pletely to banish my fright 

Just place in my mouth some more fruits of 
delight. 

[Sings] With dainties like these I thank 
God for my greed! 

BINT EL NADA 

To serve your least fancy is pleasure in¬ 
deed 


ALL 

Haroun el Rashid! 

ABU ZEIT 

Dearest Ladies, I pray 
You’ll excuse what I say 
In asking a question, perhaps I’m to blame. 
But why do you all keep repeating that 
name? 


61 


Haroun El Rashid [scene n 


ALL 

Oh, Sultan, most noble, one name and one 
only, 

Can cheer our hearts lonely. 

Thy name is the music we hark for and 
heed 

Haroun el Rashid! 

ABU ZEIT 

If it’s really my name that can charm and 
elate, 

You can have it and welcome \With bash¬ 
ful emphasis ] Billal Abu Zeit! 

ALL 

[In fits of laughter ] 

Oh, what is this dream that he’s got on the 
pate, 

Haroun el Rashid is Billal Abu Zeit! 

Oh, wake up, Mighty Sultan, your duty is 
plain— 

To forget these mad dreams and be Royal 
again. 


62 


SCENE n ] Haroun El Rashid 

ABU ZEIT 

Me Royal? 


BINT EL NADA 

Your loyal and beautiful slaves 
Have only one wish—to salute you! 

ABU ZEIT 

She raves! 

[Getting frightened ] Is the creature pos¬ 

sessed or just touched by the moon 
To say I, Abu Zeit, am the Sultan Haroun? 
Ye Oomil Taala! T’seeni! oh, Mother! 

ALL 

But you are Haroun el Rashid and no other! 

ABU ZEIT 

Well, this is beyond me, I simply can’t see it. 

[With sudden determination 
As they all seem to think me a Sultan, i’ll 


BE IT. 


Enter a Page 

63 


Haroun El Rashid [scene ii 


PAGE 

[Bowing] 

To His Majesty’s Presence presumes to ap¬ 
pear, 

His Highness, and Dryness, Amin the 
Wizir! 

wizir enters and bows 

WIZIR 

Mighty Lord and great Fountain of Power 
and Light, 

I have here a petition for Justice and Right. 

Abd-el-Al, the Shawish, has arrested for 
theft 

A withered old Hag of all virtue bereft. 

I have summoned the Hangman who waits 
with his loop, 

As a lesson to Hags that they must not steal 
soup! 


ABU ZEIT 

That’s the trick, bring her quick, and let 
justice be done. 

64 


scene ii] Haroun El Rashid 



SHAWISH LEADS FORWARD OLD FATMA 

65 









scene ii ] Haroun El Rashid 


I think Fruit and Shehada, are much better 
fun! 

wizir calls in shawish who leads forward 
old fatma, tied by a rope 

SHAWISH 

Saidetoo el Sultan, by the Koran I swear, 

That last night when I quitted my chamber 
for prayer 

I left on the table my soup in a bowl 

And returned to find some one had taken the 
whole. 

The apartments I searched, to recover my 
plate, 

Of that well-known Herami, Billal Abu 
Zeit! 

But I found that the culprit was absent in 
flight 

Having feasted, no doubt, on my soup over¬ 
night ; 

While his Mother, thus proved in the crime 
instrumental, 

Was using my bowl to cook onions and lentil. 

67 


Haroun El Rashid [scene ii 


FATMA 

Saatle Pasha! Sultan, Bey, Melik and 
Emir, 

Do not swallow one word of this cursed 

ghafeer! 

From his Father, the Dog, he inherited lies, 
And Gehenna will learn a new shame when 
he dies! 

Saatle Pasha , the bowl that he found in my 
hand . . . 


SH A WISH 

[Striking her ] 

Hold your tongue, ancient Belldame!— 

ABU ZEIT 

[To wizir] I quite understand. 

Let the Hangman string up the Shawish to 
a tree! 

Just untie that old woman and let her go 
free. [The wizir hesitates 

Dress her up in rich silks, send her home in 
a carriage! 

If you don’t do it quick 

68 


SCENE n] Haroun El Rashid 


[In a threatening voice 
You shall take her in marriage! 

[Exit wizir with fatma and 

SHA WISH 

[To bint el nada] Call him back, there is 
some one I ?nust compensate. 

BINT EL NADA Calls hack WIZIR 

[To wizir] Just pay ten thousand pounds 
to Billal Abu Zeit. 

If he’s absent from home for some reason or 
other 

Just hand the same sum to his reverend 
Mother. [wizir hows and departs 

SHEREZADA 

Noble Sire, I perceive with delight and 
elation, 

That to even the poor you allow compen¬ 
sation. 


SHEHADA 

Should a woman be silent? 

69 


Haroun El Rashid [scene ii 

But say it I must! 
You’re as wise as you’re handsome, as hand¬ 
some as just. 

ABU ZEIT 

Your perception is great, I have rather a 
notion 

You deserve something high in the way of 
promotion. 

Enter wizir 

WIZIR 

All is done that can further Your Majesty’s 
will; 

Now, what other desires can your servant 
fulfil? 

% 

Tv 

ABU ZEIT 

Let me see! Through disgust and domestic 
estrangements 

I’m obliged to make new matrimonial 
arrangements. 

I’ll divorce my three senior Sultanas and wed 

70 


SCENE n] Haroun El Rashid 

Certain recent [ Archly ] and charming selec¬ 
tions instead. 

Number one is . . . [Looks round and 
chooses] Shehada; 

And two . . . Sherezada! [Thinks a little 

And a good-looking practical third, Bint el 
Nada! [Bows to all three who salaam 

I feel sure that my life with such partners 
as these 

Will be one of contentment, joy, comfort 
and ease! 


SHEHADA 

How delightful! 


SHEREZADA 

How perfectly sweet! 

BINT EL NADA 

Name the day! 


ABU ZEIT 

We’ll be married at once, without any 
delay. 


71 


Haroun El Rashid [scene ii 

[To wizir] Just run down to the Mosque 
and command or invite 
Some Derwish or Sheik, or Imam to unite 
His Majesty’s Greatness, the Sultan. 

[To shehada] That’s me! 

To Completeness [Bows to bint el nada 
And Neatness [Bows to sherezada 

And Sweetness [Kisses shehada 

All three! 


WIZIR 

[Evidently afraid that the joke is going 

too far] 

But, Sire! Surely this is a little . . . abrupt! 
Rather hasty, in fact . . . rather 


ABU ZEIT 

[Sternly] 

Don’t interrupt. 
Cursed son of a Dog, do you know who 
I am? 

Just buzz off like a bullet and fetch the 
Imam. [Exit wizir 


72 


SCENE ii] Haroun El Rashid 

SHEHADA 

Then come let us marry with haste and with 
speed. 


ALL 

Haroun el Rashid! 


SHEREZADA 

That Monarch, so powerful, so great, so 
“Shedeed 


ALL 

Haroun el Rashid! 

BINT EL NADA 

If any one bothered to question us, we’d 
Give forth a unanimous answer indeed. 

SHEREZADA 

Sherezada. 


SHEHADA 

Shehada. 



Haroun El Rashid [scene ii 

BINT EL NADA 

El Nada agreed. 


ALL 

Haroun el Rashid! 

[Dance and Curtain 


74 


Scene III. The bridge outside the house of 
abu zeit. abu zeit, in rags , asleep on 
an angerib. A cock crows, abu zeit 
moves uneasily , and half wakes. 

ABU ZEIT 

[Rubbing his eyes] 

Sherezada! [A pause] 

Shehada! [No answer] 

El Nada! . . . Dear me! 

Where the deuce are my wives? 

Are they absent all three? 

[Sits up angrily 

Must I summon them thrice? Must I bellow 
and roar? 

Ye, Shehada, come quick or there’s trouble 
in store. 


MOTHER FATMA 

[Looking from Door] 

B’lsm Illahil What noise! What on earth 
is the matter? 


75 


Haroun El Rashid [scene hi 


ABU ZEIT 

Wretched Hag, call my wives or I’ll beat 
you to batter! 


FATMA 

[Laughing] 

God is great! Abu Zeit! Call his wives 
then, indeed! 

ABU ZEIT 

[ With dignity ] 

Is it thus that you speak to Haroun el 
Rashid? 

Just remove these base rags, they’re offend¬ 
ing my nose, 

Bring my breakfast, my wives, my Wizir— 
and my clothes! 

FATMA 

\Coming out in great anxiety ] 

Oh, what ravings! What Devil possesses 
my son? 

In the name of the Prophet, ye Ibni , have 
done. 


76 


scene hi] Haroun El Rashid 



“MUST I BELLOW AND ROAR 

77 





































SCENE III ] Haroun El Rashid 


[abu zeit jumps up and kicks her 

Oh, he’s wild! My poor child! My un¬ 
happy Billal. 

[He kicks her again 

Holy Allah, I’m off for Shawish Abd-el-Al! 

[Exit FATMA 

Enter haroun disguised 

HAROUN 

Good my brother. Good morning! I hope 
you are well. 

ABU ZEIT 

Oh, most insolent Hound of the children of 
Hell, 

Call me Sultan! Is discipline come to this 
pass? 

HAROUN 

No, I won’t call you Sultan! 

I’ll call you— An Ass! 

You’ve been Sultan Haroun el Rashid for 
one day 

Yet I find a poor man at the end of the play! 

79 


Haroun El Rashid [scene hi 


ABU ZEIT 

In the name of the Prophet, most insolent 
loon, 

Whence come you 4 ? What do you? Who 
are you? 


HAROUN 

Haroun! 

[Drops outer mantle and reveals 
himself. 

Claps hands . wizir and Page enter . 

HAROUN 

[To abu zeit] ’Twas to me that you 
boasted that if you had power 

You would make all men rich in a day or 
an hour! 

By my orders these carriers took you away 

And made you Haroun el Rashid for one 
day. 

And what’s the result? You laugh, lan¬ 
guish and feast, 

And don’t care for your subjects and slaves 
in the least! 


80 


scene in] Haroun El Rashid 

All the duties of State to officials you fling! 
Why, Billal Abu Zeit, you're a typical 
King! 


ABU ZEIT 

Mighty Sultan Haroun, your forgiveness I 
pray; 

I deserve your reproaches, I’ve wasted my 
day. 

I turn back to my rags, without riches or 
wife! 

[Angrily] I have served for your sport. 
You have ruined my life. 

HAROUN 

Wretched man, to give darkness such con¬ 
trasts were shame, 

I’ve awakened your soul and shall pamper 
the same. 

All your orders shall stand, all your gifts be 
made good; 

You shall have your “ten thousand,” your 
wives and your food. 

81 


Haroun El Rashid [scene hi 

[To wizir] Bring his satins and silks, bring 
his gold, his Shehada; 

His Bint something or other . . . and 
Sherezada. 

Enter the Three Wives and fatma, 
carrying rich clothing , jewellery , etc. 

And [To abu zeit] I hope Abu Zeit may 
live long to enjoy, 

Every smile, every wile, every trinket and 
toy! 


ABU ZEIT 

Oh, whose is the hand by whose bounty we 
feed? 


ALL 

Haroun el Rashid! 

THE THREE WIVES 

Oh, who is the chief in whose cause we would 
bleed? 

Haroun el Rashid! 

82 


SCENE III ] Haroun El Rashid 


ALL 

All praise to the chief who can counsel and 
lead, 

By whose wisdom we live, by whose sword 
we are freed! 

All hail to our Sultan, our Ruler indeed! 
Haroun el Rashid! 

[Curtain 



I486 263 


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